The Michigan Potato Industry Commission is excited to present the 2026 Winter Potato Conference, January 27-29 at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel. The Winter Potato Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn and network with other industry professionals on a number of leading-edge topics.
Click here to register.
Need at hotel room for the conference?
We have a block of rooms reserved. Please use this link to book your room.
If you have any problems or would like to speak to someone at the hotel to book your room, please call Brooke LeRoux at 616-942-3174.
Do you want to apply for Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) credits?
Two (2) Restricted Use Pesticide Credits (RUP) are available. To receive RUPs, you must complete the additional form linked below. RUP credits must be submitted by the conference start date.
2026 Winter Potato Conference Agenda
Conference WiFi Sponsor: Yara North America
(Schedule subject to change)
Tuesday, January 27
9:00am – Exhibitor Setup Opens, Atrium
1:00pm-5:00pm – Registration Open, Michigan Room
5:00pm-6:00pm – Opening Reception, Atrium/Michigan Room, sponsored by Spudnik
6:15pm-7:45pm – Michigan Potato Legacy Fund Comedy Show Fundraiser featuring Matt Conn, Grand Centennial Ballroom
Wednesday, January 28
8:00am – Registration Open (all day), Michigan Room
8:00am – Exhibitor Setup Opens, Atrium
8:30am-9:00am – Breakfast, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Spudnik
9:00am-10:00am – General Session 1, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by 1,4GROUP
- MPIC Annual Meeting
- National Potato Council Update, Mike Wenkel
10:15am-10:45am – Breakout Sessions
- Cheboygan – Potato 2.0: Progress with Diploid Potato Breeding, Dr. Dave Douches, sponsored by TriEst Ag Group
- Traverse City/Saugatuck/Harbor Springs – Beating the Beetle: Updated for Colorado Potato Beetle Management, Dr. Zsofia Szendrei, Ray Rantz, sponsored by Sure Crop Fertilizers
- Mackinac/Petoskey – Weed Control in Potatoes, Dr. Erin Burns, Nicolle Ritchie
10:45am-11:15am – Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Visits, Atrium/Michigan, sponsored by GreenStone Farm Credit Services
11:15am-12:00pm – Breakout Sessions
- Cheboygan – Spore Trapping: An Overview, Christian Lebeau-Jacob, sponsored by TriEst Ag Group
- Traverse City/Saugatuck/Harbor Springs – Potato Early Die Management, Dr. Marisol Quintanilla, sponsored by Sure Crop Fertilizers
- Mackinac/Petoskey – Practical Steps to Begin Your Succession Planning Journey, Jeffrey S. DeWald, CLU, ChFC, CBEC
12:15pm-12:55pm – Awards Luncheon, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Techmark, Inc.
12:55pm-3:00pm – General Session 2, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Ike's Welding & Manufacturing
- Awards Presentation
- Economic Outlook, Dr. Paul Isely
- Potatoes USA Update, Kim Breshears
3:00pm-3:30pm – Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Visits, Atrium/Michigan Room, sponsored by UPL NA, Inc.
3:30pm-4:00pm – Breakout Sessions
- Cheboygan – Crossroads to Harvest, Josh Brood
- Traverse City/Saugatuck/Harbor Springs – Rot or Not? (and Other Potato Disease Issues), Dr. Jaime Willbur
- Mackinac/Petoskey – Aphid Monitoring and PVY Risk in Northern Michigan, Dr. Abigail Cohen
4:00pm-6:30pm – Industry Reception, Atrium/Michigan Room
Thursday, January 29
8:30am-9:00am – Breakfast, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Potato Services of Michigan
8:50am-10:30am – General Session 3, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Oxbo International
- PGMI Annual Meeting
- Michigan Potato Legacy Fund
- Baldly Bipartisan
10:45am-11:30am – Breakout Sessions
- Cheboygan – How to Create Positive Cash Flow, Steve Kluemper
- Traverse City/Saugatuck/Harbor Springs – Weathering the Storm, Dr. Remington Rice
- Mackinac/Petoskey – Soil Health in Michigan Potato Fields, Dr. Kaitlin Gattoni
11:30am-12:00pm – Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Visits, Atrium/Michigan Room
12:00pm-12:45pm – Breakout Sessions
- Cheboygan – New Potato Varieties: A Sustainability Tool, Chris Long
- Traverse City/Saugatuck/Harbor Springs – Prepare to Share: Water Use Committees, Todd Feenstra
- Mackinac/Petoskey – Irrigation Research and Program Updates, Dr. Younsuk Dong, Lyndon Kelley, Angie Gradiz, Brenden Kelley
12:45pm-1:15pm – Luncheon, Grand Centennial Ballroom, sponsored by Sklarczyk Seed Farm
1:15pm-3:00pm – General Session 4, Grand Centennial Ballroom
- Farm Bureau Insurance, Ray Heisler
- Keynote Speaker: Canadian potato farmer and social media influencer Tyler "Potato Ty" Heppell